Ecuador is targeting a 31 per cent increase of its non-oil exports including flowers, banana and other processed food to the UAE.

The total value of the country’s non-oil exports to the UAE has reached $3.65 million as of the third quarter, said Pro Ecuador, the trade and investment promotion organisation.

In 2012, Ecuador’s non-oil exports to the UAE expanded by 11 per cent as its value increased from $4.4 million in 2011 to $4.91 million.

Three quarters worth of Ecuadorian flower exports to the emirates have increased by 86 per cent, while banana exports grew by 59 per cent, and cocoa and confectionary exports were up 50 per cent.

Hussam Hassan, head of the Ecuadorian Trade Office in Dubai, said: “The UAE is one of the key destinations in the Middle East for Ecuadorian products. We are aiming to further increase our exports of traditional products to the country as it has generated major revenues.

“At the same time, seeing strong potential of expanding trade activities for some of our products, our focus for next year would also be on flowers, coffee, chocolates, traditional and non-traditional fruits, vegetables, seafood and wood”.

Furthermore, the company has entered into a strategic partnership with Dubai Exports and Dubai FDI, the export promotion agency and the foreign investment office of Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED) respectively, to further promote exports and investments between the two economies. - TradeArabia News Service